Holding device

ABSTRACT

A holder for articles comprising a pouch, a loop coupled to the pouch, and a fastener for coupling the loop to the pouch. Both the pouch and the loop can be made from flexible material. The pouch can have a back section and a front section and wherein this pouch can further comprise a backing element coupled to the back section of the pouch. The holder can also include body section disposed between the pouch the loop. The holder can also optionally include a backing element substantially enclosed in the body section of the holder. The backing element can be formed from a stiff material and can provide a stiff backing for the pouch. There can also be an optional additional fastener coupled to the body section on a side opposite the pouch. Another optional feature is a longitudinal fastener coupled to a front end of the body section. This longitudinal fastener can be used to allow a wire or a tube to be fastened to the body section of the holder. For example, to secure a tube, the longitudinal fastener can include a first flap, and a second flap wherein the first flap and the second flap can be secured using a securing fastener.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation in part application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser No. 09/994,196 filed on Nov. 26, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference and which claimed priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/965,173 filed on Sep. 27, 2001 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention relates to a device for holding pumps or cell phones wherein this device is designed to fit inside of a user's pocket or to wrap around a user's belt. This device can also be used to hold any other electronic and/or digital device such as a beeper a heart monitor or a pocket recorder or a palm pilot.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention relates to a device that can be used for holding electronic devices such as a cell phone or a beeper.

[0004] Essentially the invention relates to a holder for articles comprising a pouch, a loop coupled to the pouch, and a fastener for coupling the loop to the pouch. Both the pouch and the loop can be made from flexible material. The pouch can have a back section and a front section and wherein this pouch further can comprise a backing element coupled to the back section of the pouch. The holder can also include body section disposed between the pouch and the loop. The holder can also optionally include a backing element substantially enclosed in the body and or flap section of the holder. The fastener for turning the flap into the loop can be in the form of a hook and loop fastener, a set of oppositely polarized magnets embedded in the flap which mate together to close the flap or any other type of device.

[0005] The backing element can be formed from a stiff material and can provide a stiff backing for the pouch. There can also be an optional additional fastener coupled to the body section on a side opposite the pouch.

[0006] Another optional feature is a longitudinal fastener coupled to a front end of the body section. This longitudinal fastener can be used to allow a wire or a tube to be fastened to the body section of the holder. For example, to secure a tube, the longitudinal fastener can include a first flap, and a second flap wherein the first flap and the second flap can be secured using a securing fastener.

[0007] The device can also optionally include a top flap for securing the electronic device in the pouch. This top flap can be coupled to the loop or body section of the holder and also include an additional fastener to fasten the top flap to the pouch. In addition, disposed inside the pouch can be a magnetic securing means to secure metal components in the pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0009] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the device according to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2A is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0012]FIG. 2B is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 2C is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 2D is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the device;

[0016]FIG. 4A is a back view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 4B is a back view of another embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 4C is a back view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the device according to the invention. In this view, holder 10 includes a pouch or an article container 12 which is made from a flexible material such as a canvas or cloth or neoprene rubber material or a clear plastic such as mylar. A securing means such as strap, flap or loop 14 can connect to pouch 10 wherein flap or loop 14 is made from a flexible material such as a cloth, canvas or rubbery material such as neoprene. When flap 14 is closed it forms a loop. Holder 10 can include a body section 16 which is disposed adjacent to pouch 10, and a fastening section 20 which includes fastener element 20 a. Fastener element 20 a can be,fastened to a corresponding and complementary fastening element 20 b (See FIG. 2 and also FIG. 4A) which is coupled to pouch 12 or body section 16 to close loop 14.

[0019] Fastener element 20 a and complementary fastener element 20 b can be in the form of a hook and loop fastener, a snap closure a button and an eye, or two oppositely polarized magnets that attract each other with sufficient strength to close loop 14, or any other fastening device known in the art. Disposed above pouch 12 is a longitudinal fastener 35 for holding an antenna, a wire associated with any electronic device that may be stored in pouch 12 or, a tube that may extend out of any electronic device disposed therein such as a pump. This longitudinal or longitudinally extending fastener 35 is an optional feature and the device can also include an additional longitudinally extending fastener 35′. There is also an optional cover flap 50 which can be used to secure an electronic device 48. Optional cover flap 50 can include either a hole 51 a for allowing a tube to fit there-through or a slit 51 b for allowing a tube or wire to be inserted through that opening.

[0020]FIG. 2A shows a front view of another embodiment of the invention which shows a new embodiment which does not contain optional cover or flap 50. A longitudinally extending fastener or holding element 35 is shown in greater detail and can be in a tube-shape and be formed from flaps 35 a and 35 b and can be coupled to body section 16 of loop or strap 14. Longitudinal fastener 35 also includes a fastener or fastening element 36 which includes a first fastening element 36 a and a second fastening element 36 b which can be in the form of a hook and loop fastener, a snap closure, a button and eye, two oppositely polarized magnets that attract each other with sufficient strength to close longitudinal fastener 35 or any other fastening type device known in the art.

[0021]FIG. 2B shows as similar design as that of FIG. 2A, however, FIG. 2B shows a strap 58 in the place of cover flap 50 shown in FIG. 1. Strap 58 can be of any kind of material and may be made from an elastic material such as an elastic band, neoprene or from a more inelastic material such as cloth. Strap 58 can be secured by a fastener 59 which may be in the form of a button, a hook, or any other securing means known in the art. In addition, a flap 70 can be used to connect flap or loop section 14 with body section 16 via a fastening means 72 such as a hook and loop fastener.

[0022]FIG. 2C shows another embodiment of the invention wherein a new style flap 55 is secured by a fastener 59 which as stated above may be in the form of a button, a loop, a hook or any other fastener known in the art attached to pouch 12. FIG. 2C also shows a connection element 75 or strap in the form of elastic bands of neoprene or any other type of material that can be used to connect flap or loop 14 together such that fastening section 20 connects with body section 16.

[0023]FIG. 2D shows another embodiment of the invention wherein strap 74 is a two-part strap that connects flap 14 with base part 16 via any fastener including a hook and loop fastener 76.

[0024]FIG. 3, is a side view of another embodiment of the device. This view shows another embodiment of holder 10 which can include an optional stiff backing 40 along with optional cover flap 50 which as stated above can be used to secure a device as shown by the dash-dotted lines. The device can be an electronic or digital device 48 such as a cell phone, a medical pump, a medicine administering device 48 or any other device which can fit into pouch 12.

[0025] Backing element 40 can be formed from a stiff plastic or a metal sheet or any other substantially resilient material wherein backing element 40 can be inserted into a pouch 17 in body section 16 of flap or loop 14 such that backing element 40 is disposed inside in pouch 17. A flap 19 can be used to cover backing element 40 once it is inside of pouch 17. Backing element 40 includes a fastener 44 incorporated therein, wherein this fastener 44 can be in the form of any known fastener but is preferably a safety pin wherein cover 19 can be used to cover safety pin 44 both when it is in use and when it is not in use. Backing element 40 is used to provide a stiff backing for pouch 12.

[0026] Disposed opposite backing element 40 is cover flap 50. Flap 50 can be coupled to body section 16 of loop, flap or strap 14 wherein flap 50 includes a fastener 52 which includes a first fastening element 52 a secured to an inside region of flap 50 and a second fastening element 52 b which is secured to pouch 12. Flap 50 can be folded over device 48 to secure device 48 into pouch 12 wherein first fastening element 52 a can be secured to second fastening element 52 b.

[0027]FIG. 4A is a back view of another embodiment of the device. With this back view, there is shown an additional fastener 60 which is substantially similar to fastener 44, however additional fastener is not secured to backing element 40. Instead, additional fastener is attached directly to a back end of body section 16. Wherein this design as shown is at least one part of a hook and loop fastener while another embodiment of this design could be a safety pin 44 as shown in FIG. 4B. As shown, loop 14 can be created by folding section 20 over on top of section 16 so that fastening element 20 a couples and secures to fastening element 20 b. There is also a slit opening or two holes 61 disposed in body section 16 of flap 14 which allows fastener 60 to extend through so that it can be fastened to a corresponding fastening location such as in a pocket.

[0028]FIG. 4B also shows that fasteners 20 a and 20 b are in the form of magnets which are embedded into the material of either the loop section and/or the body 16 or the fastening section 20 (see FIG. 4A) of loop 14. Safety pin 44 can be secured to body section 16 without the use of backing element 40. Pin 44 is secured to body 16 via any known means and even sewn into body section 16.

[0029]FIG. 4C shows a strap or covering 80 that can be used to fit over safety pin 44 so that it provides a cover for safety pin 44.

[0030] This device is essentially designed so that a user can secure any type of device or component either to his or her belt or inside of his or her pocket. For example, loop 14 can be used to secure over a user's belt while additional fastener 60 or fastener 44 can be used to secure holder 10 to an article of clothing such as an inside region of a user's pocket thus allowing a user to conceal the device from view and hold it and its components securely.

[0031] Essentially the different optional elements from the different views can be mixed and matched together to form any one of a different set of embodiments of the holding device.

[0032] Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for articles comprising: a) a pouch; b) a flap coupled to said pouch; and c) a fastener for coupling said flap closed to said pouch to form a loop.
 2. The holder as in claim 1, wherein said pouch is made from a flexible material.
 3. The holder as in claim 1, wherein said flap is made from a flexible material.
 4. The holder as in claim 1, wherein said pouch has a back section and a front section and said pouch further comprises a backing element coupled to said back section of said pouch.
 5. The holder as in claim 1, wherein said flap comprises a body section disposed adjacent to said pouch and a fastening section disposed on an opposite end of said pouch.
 6. The holder as in claim 5, further comprising a backing element substantially enclosed in said body section of said holder.
 7. The holder as in claim 6, wherein said backing element is formed from a stiff material and provides a stiff backing for said pouch.
 8. The holder as in claim 5, further comprising an additional fastener coupled to said body section on a side opposite said pouch.
 9. The holder as in claim 5, further comprising a longitudinally extending fastening element coupled to a front side of said body section.
 10. The holder as in claim 9, wherein said longitudinally extending fastener comprises a first flap, and a second flap and a securing fastener for securing said first flap to said second flap.
 12. The holder as in claim 6, wherein said body section of said flap comprises a container disposed opposite said pouch on said body section, said container for receiving said backing element.
 13. The device as in claim 12, wherein said backing element further comprises a fastener for securing the device to a pocket.
 14. The device as in claim 13, wherein said fastener is a safety pin.
 15. The device as in claim 13, wherein said flap has a hole such that when said flap is closed, said hole in said flap is positioned to allow said fastener to extend there-through.
 16. The device as in claim 15, further comprising a safety flap coupled to said flap wherein said safety flap is for covering said safety pin extending through said hole in said flap.
 17. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a cover flap coupled to said flap, said cover flap for covering over any object inserted into said pouch to secure any object in said pouch.
 18. The device as in claim 5, further comprising at least one strap for coupling said body section to said fastening section on said flap.
 19. The device as in claim 18, further comprising a strap fastener wherein said at least one strap is coupled to said body section and said fastening section via said strap fastener.
 20. The device as in claim 1, wherein said strap fastener is in the form of a hook and loop fastener.
 21. A holder for articles comprising: a) a pouch; b) a flap coupled to said pouch wherein said flap comprises, a body section and a fastening section; c) a fastener for coupling said flap closed to said pouch to form a loop wherein said fastener couples said body section to said fastening section to close said flap into a loop; d) a cover for covering said pouch; e) at least one strap for coupling said body section to said fastening section; f) a container coupled to said body section; and g) a backing element formed from a substantially rigid material which can be inserted into said container wherein articles for holding can be inserted into said pouch and secured in said pouch via said cover and wherein the holder can be secured to a user's body via said flap forming a loop and being secured to that person.
 22. A holder for articles comprising: a) a pouch; b) a flap coupled to said pouch wherein said flap comprises a body section and a fastening section; c) a fastener for coupling said flap closed to said pouch to form a loop wherein said fastener couples said body section to said fastening section to close said flap into a loop; d) a cover for covering said pouch wherein said cover is in a form of straps; e) a securing element coupled to said pouch for securing said cover to said pouch f) at least one strap for coupling said body section to said fastening section; g) a longitudinally extending fastener coupled to said flap and disposed adjacent to said pouch; h) a container coupled to said body section; and i) a backing element formed from a substantially rigid material which can be inserted into said container wherein articles for holding can be inserted into said pouch and secured in said pouch via said cover and wherein the holder can be secured to a user's body via said flap forming a loop and being secured to that person.
 23. The holder as in claim 22 wherein said backing element further includes a backing fastener and said flap further comprises a hole for allowing said backing fastener to extend there-through opposite said pouch when said flap is closed on itself forming a loop. 